Coding  and Retrieval 

If all your  data are  word processed on in some  other  computer readable form  it will  be possible  for your  primary  documents  to be accessed directly by the software. The  software can search  the text  itself and allocate codes to specified units of text. More  powerful  software will display the documents on screen in your chosen format. Identification of text units may be  by line number although more powerful software offers you the  facility of  choosing  the most appropriate size of text unit for your type  of data b  highlighting the appropriate section of  text in the document window. Data are coded by selecting a unit  of text and directing it either to a  new or to an existing code address. A text unit may be directed to any number of code  addresses. Some  software offers a facility for coding non computer  readable data such  as videotapes audiotapes maps photographs or archival texts.